Discussion on TF0920

The picture of Bourne Bus Station TF0920 : Bourne bus station at the height of summer makes this an appropriate square for some in formation about Delaine Buses, which runs the local bus service into Peterborough.This is one of the few remaining family-run businesses still running a traditional local bus service. These disappeared either through the general decline in bus usage or from competition following deregulation and privatisation in the mid 1980s.The main service has always been between Bourne and Peterborough vie the Deepings. For many years an hourly frequency was operated, but with the expansion of housing, particularly in the Deepings, and improvements to the road network in Peterborough which allowed shorter journey times, there are currently (2008) two journeys an hour between Bourne and Peterborough, one of which extends to Morton. The fact that the majority of the fleet are double-deck buses is an indication that levels of patronage are still high. Current fares levels are very competitive with the cost of parking in the centre of Peterborough.Unlike many other small operators, Delaine Buses have not relied on second-hand buses no longer in the prime of condition, but have pursued a policy of purchasing new vehicles whenever possible. Once bought, the fleet has always been maintained to high standards. A good example of this is that not only are the most recent vehicles fitted with CCTV (now a normal part of the specification of any new buses), but older buses have been retrofitted too.A trip on the top of a Delaine bus covers a variety of landscapes including the modern new-town development of Peterborough, the wide-open fenland landscape and the attractive stone-built towns and villages of south Lincolnshire.A selection of views along the Morton to Peterborough route can be seen here. On these I have used the phrase 'With the Delaine', rather than simply 'With Delaine'. This may seem a bit odd, but until just a few years ago, the words 'The Delaine' in scroll letters were traditionally carried on the sideof the buses. This seems to have stuck in commonparlance, even though it was never part of the formal company name. Itwas certainly applied to buses purchased since 2000, although it does notappear on the newest ones.